ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
APEDA organizes first ever virtual trade fair to boost export potential of India’s agricultural and processed food products
In a first of its kind initiative for boosting export potential of India’s agricultural and processed food products during COVID19 pandemic, APEDA launched its first Virtual Trade Fair  yesterday on 10th March 2021. The fair will conclude on March 12, 2021.
The fair with a theme ‘India Rice and Agro Commodity’, will focus on showcasing the exports potential of various agricultural commodities. Importers as well as exporters will be key participants of the VTF. The potential buyers or importers and visitors will get to explore a wide range of food products presented by the exporters through this virtual fair.
The key products which would be displayed through VTF include – basmati rice, non-basmati rice, millets, wheat, maize, groundnut and coarse grains. So far 135 Exhibitors have registered for the VTF. Further 266 Indian and international buyers from United Arab Emirates, Brazil, New Zealand, France, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Fiji, Philippines, Qatar, Sudan, Myanmar, Netherlands, and Peru have registered at the starting of the events. The buyers have been generated with the support of Indian Embassies abroad. An aggressive campaign of Virtual Trade Fair is running on Social media.
Because of COVID19 related restrictions on physical travel and trade, APEDA has initiated the concept of VTF for sustaining India’s agricultural and processed food products exports and also exploring new markets for expanding export footprints.
In the pre-COVID19 era, trade fairs and exhibitions have been instrumental in promoting export of agricultural foods by APEDA. In the VTF, the trade facilitation would take place using interactive technology.
Through VTF, the exporters and importer meetings can be held with no interruption via audio as well as video sessions. The fair provides the facility workshops, product launches, live streams and webinars. The virtual meet will have facilities for private meeting rooms, personalized meeting provisions.
The online interactions between exporters and importers and data exchanged during such interaction will be secured and can be accessed only by parties concerned.
Such virtual events also provide cost effective and productive platforms where the buyers and sellers could negotiate or discuss trade face to face giving a feel of real time exhibitions or fairs.
APEDA has been pioneer in taking IT initiatives in the past in terms of making its process system online, Implementation of traceability and adoption of advanced technology.
YB/SS
(Visitor Counter : 739
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Cargo Handling Capacity of Major Ports Increased by Over 650 MMT
Shri Mandaviya Praises Efforts under Sagarmala Programme
Union Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Chemical & Fertilizers Shri Mansukh L Mandaviya has praised the efforts under Sagarmala programme saying, the port-led development has resulted in all-round betterment on this sector. The Minister said in a statement today that the Cargo handling capacity of major ports has been enhanced by over 400 MTAs in the last four years.
Government’s flagship Programme Sagarmala to promoted Port-Led Development in the country has four major components: Port Modernization, Port Led Industrialization, Port Connectivity Enhancement, and Coastal Community Development. National Perspective Plan  2015-2035 for Sagarmala was released in 2016. Under Port Modernisation component of Sagarmala Programme, major achievements in the port sector are as under:
- Addition in cargo handling capacity of Major Ports:
2013-14 - 800.52 MTPA
2017-18 - 1451.19 MTPA
Increase in capacity - 650.67 MMT
- Total traffic handled by Major Ports:
2013-14 - 555.49 MT
2017-18 - 679.47 MT
Increase in traffic - 123.98 MT
- Reduction in Average Turn Around Time :
2013-14 - 93.60 Hrs.
2017-18 - 65.00 Hrs.
Saving in time - 28.60 Hrs.
- Increase in Average Ship Berthday Output:
2013-14 - 12468 Tonnes.
2017-18 - 15451 Tonnes.
Increase in output - 2983 Tonnes.
- RFID based Gate-automation System implemented in all Major Ports. This has reduced congestion at port’s gate and enable faster evacuation of cargo thus reducing average turn-around time.
Click here for Minister’s vByte
Vice President's Secretariat
Vice President calls for introducing structural reforms to make Agriculture profitable
Centre and states must accord highest priority to agriculture, education and healthcare sectors: Vice President
Allied sectors like horticulture and aquaculture need to be promoted to augment farmers income;
Presents Rythu Nestham Awards 2019 at a function in Swarna Bharat Trust
The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has stressed the need to introduce structural reforms to make agriculture profitable and sustainable.
Presenting Rythu Nestham Awards on the occasion of the 15th Anniversary of the publication of Rythu Nestham and two other journals Pasu Nestam and Prakruti Nestam at a function held in Swarna Bharat Trust, in Hyderabad today, he urged the Union Government and various State Governments to accord highest priority to agriculture, education and healthcare sectors.
With 60 per cent of the population dependent on agriculture, he said the foremost priority must be accorded to promoting agriculture and making it viable and remunerative. Observing that there was a need for agricultural renaissance in the country, he said that there should be more focus on ensuring insurance, irrigation and infrastructure development, apart from providing timely credit to farmers.
Pointing out that the Indian farmer was doing a pious duty in feeding millions of people, Shri Naidu said that the agriculture producer was getting less, while the trader was getting more. The government and the NITI Aayog should look into this aspect and make structural changes so that the farmer gets his due.
The Vice President also emphasized the need for diversification in agriculture and promotion of allied sectors like horticulture, poultry, pisciculture, aquaculture and sericulture to augment the income of the farmers. Food processing was one area which has immense potential and needs to be fully tapped, he added.
Urging scientists to find ways for reducing the input costs for agriculture, Shri Naidu also called for revamping the curriculum of agricultural courses to ensure that students spend at 50 per cent of their study time by interacting with farmers in the fields. Spending time with the farmer in the field would be a huge learning experience for the students, he added.
The Vice President also cautioned people against the growing incidence of lifestyle diseases and said that it was important to adopt healthy dietary practices. He also advised people to protect nature and preserve culture for a better future.
The Governor of Telangana, Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan, the Chairman of Andhra Pradesh Official Language Commission, Shri Yarlagadda Lakshmiprasad and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
Ministry of Power
India signs Strategic Partnership Agreement with International Energy Agency 
The Framework for Strategic Partnership between the International Energy Agency  members and the Government of India was signed on 27th January, 2021 to strengthen mutual trust and cooperation & enhance global energy security, stability and sustainability.This partnership will lead to an extensive exchange of knowledge and would be a stepping stone towards India becoming a full member of the IEA.
The MoU was signed by Mr. SanjivNandanSahai, Secretary  from the Indian side and Dr.FatihBirol, IEA Executive Director from the IEA side.
The contents of the Strategic partnership will be jointly decided by the IEA Members and India, including a phased increase in benefits and responsibilities for India as an IEA Strategic partner, and building on existing areas of work within Association and the Clean Energy Transitions Programme , such as Energy Security, Clean & Sustainable Energy, Energy Efficiency, Enhancing petroleum storage capacity in India, Expansion of gas-based economy in India etc.
The IEA Secretariat will be responsible for implementation of the cooperative activities in India and for facilitating discussion between the IEA Members and India to further develop the Strategic Partnership.
The Government of Indiaendeavours to take necessary steps to encourage and promote strategic and technical co-operation in the energy sector in the identified areas noted above, through the Framework Agreement.
Ministry of Finance
The Government of India announces details of Bank recap and Comprehensive Reform Plan
The Government of India today unveiled details of the re-capitalisation of Public Sector Banks  announced in October, 2017. The capital infusion plan for 2017-18 includes Rs.80,000 crore through Recap Bonds and Rs.8,139 crore as budgetary support. This plan addresses regulatory capital requirement of all PSBs and provides a significant amount towards growth capital for increasing lending to the economy.
The recap would be accompanied by a strong reforms package across six themes incorporating 30 action points. The reforms agenda is based on the recommendations made at the PSB Manthan held in November, 2017 involving senior management of PSBs and representatives from Government. The reform agenda is aimed at EASE - Enhanced Access and Service Excellence, focusing on six themes of customer responsiveness, responsible banking, credit off take, PSBs as Udyami Mitra, deepening financial inclusion & digitalisation and developing personnel for brand PSB. The overarching framework for the reforms agenda is “Responsive and Responsible PSBs”.
Capital infusion by the Government is contingent on performance of PSBs on the reform. Whole Time Directors of PSBs would be assigned theme wise reforms for implementation. Their performance in this regard would be evaluated by the bank Board.
A survey by an independent agency in respect of EASE would be conducted to measure public perception about improvements in access and service quality. Results of the survey shall be made public each year.
Taken together, the recap & reform agenda is sharply focused on strengthening PSBs, increasing lending to MSMEs and making it easier for MSMEs and retail customers to transact as well as significantly increasing access to banking services. It includes a commitment to banking services within 5 kms of every village, refund within 10 days of any unauthorised debit in electronic transactions, a mobile App for locating banking outlets and a mobile ATM in every underserved district.
Finance Commission
Advisory Council of Fifteenth Finance Commission meets today
The sixth meeting of Advisory Council to the Fifteenth Finance Commission was held today. The meeting was chaired by Shri N.K. Singh, Chairman, XVFC and attended by the Members of the XVFC, Members of the Advisory Council, other special invitees and eminent scholars. The agenda of the meeting included the following.
- Seeking the views of the participants on the report of the XV-FC for the year 2020-21, the formula for horizontal devolution of Central taxes and other recommendations contained in the Report.
- Views on the outlook for nominal GDP growth for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26, tax buoyancy and other macro-economic parameters relevant for the commission for the aforesaid period.
While discussing about the framework for vertical and horizontal devolution of taxes, the methodological innovations made in the Report were favourably commented upon. The options for nominal GDP growth and resource mobilization, as well as, the downsides and upsides to different possibilities therein were discussed in detail, particularly in the light of emerging global trends and patterns discernible in high-frequency, domestic indicators. The centrality of strengthening the administration and technology platform of GST in ensuring fiscal balance of the Centre and the States was also emphasised.
Apart from the Chairman, Members and the officers of the XVFC and the Members of the Advisory Council, namely, Dr. Indira Rajaraman, Dr. Arvind Virmani, Dr M. Govinda Rao, Dr Prachi Mishra, Dr Sudipto Mundle and Dr Krishnamurthy Subramanian, the meeting was also attended by eminent bureaucrats and scholars like Dr. Bibek Debroy, Shri. Ratan P Watal, Shri Amitabh Kant, Shri. Atanu Chakraborty, Dr. T. V. Somanathan, Dr. Anantha Nageswaran, Dr. Shankar Acharya, Dr. Abhijit Sen, Dr. Ajit Mishra, Dr. Manoj Panda, Mr. Swaminathan A. Aiyar and Shri. T. N. Ninan.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Ministry of Tribal Affairs to organise Workshop on Good Governance for District Collectors & Project Officers  of Scheduled Areas
Shri Arjun Munda Union Minister of Tribal Affairs will grace the event and share his valuable suggestions
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has proposed to organise a Workshop on Good Governance for District Collectors and Project Officers  of Scheduled Areas on the 10th of February, 2023 at the Civil Service Officers Institute in New Delhi. Over hundred District Collectors and Project Officers  of Scheduled Areas across the nation are expected to participate in the workshop and share experiences on gaps in policy and implementation and make recommendations/ suggestions on bridging the same through mutual learning.
Shri Arjun Munda, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, will grace the event as the Chief Guest and is set to participate in the workshop and impart his valuable inputs.
Smt. Renuka Singh Saruta, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, will also be present on the occasion and contribute to the talks.
Shri Anil Kumar Jha, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs will also attend the workshop and participating in the deliberations.
Further, officers of the Ministry, including the Additional Secretary and Joint Secretaries and other senior officers are scheduled to moderate the group discussions, besides giving presentations on four key themes, viz.
- Administration and Review Mechanism of implementation of provisions of Fifth Schedule with special focus on land transfer regulations, tribal land alienation and compensation, prevention of atrocities act, invoking of special powers of Governors and implementation thereof and functioning of ITDP/ITDA, MADA pockets and clusters/micro-projects in Scheduled Areas.
- Administration and Review Mechanism of implementation of provisions of Panchayat Extension in Scheduled Areas Act  1996 and Forest Rights Act  2006 in Scheduled Areas.
- Implementation and Review Mechanism of PMAAGY, educational, health, other schemes and STC of Centre and State schemes for development of STs in Scheduled Areas.
- Livelihoods, MSP to MFP and Van Dhan Vikas Kendras 
District Collectors are also expected to make presentations on the findings of the Focus Group Discussions. There will also be an Open House for participants to touch upon any other topic.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs holds such informative workshops from time to time as a carrier on dialogues with various stakeholders for sharing experiences and inviting suggestions so as to promote new ideas, thus attaining the lofty objective of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas,’during this Amrit Kaal.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment writes to States/Uts to ensure basic physical accessibility features for divyangjan in centres for COVID-19 testing & quarantine facilities and treatment at hospitals
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has asked all States and Union Territories to ensure basic physical accessibility features for Divyangjan  as per reasonable accommodation in the centres for COVID-19 testing and quarantine facilities as well as for treatment at hospitals and health centres. In a letter to the Chief Secretaries of all States and UTs, Smt. Shakuntala D. Gamlin, Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities , Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has said that to mitigate the effects of the pandemic, many COVID-19 centers have been identified as containment units, isolation treatment centres and testing labs for enhancing the holding capacity for medical purposes as required. The current crisis poses even greater threats to the Divyangjan not just due to their lesser/compromised immunity, ability to perceive or comprehend information but also due to non-availability of accessibility features in the physical environment and eco-system provided at such COVID related facilities.
DEPwD has already published guidelines concerning information dissemination in alternative accessible formats, priority treatment for the Persons with Disabilities  and provisions of safety, healthy living and hygiene for PwDs, attendants, care-givers and accessible service providers, such as sign language interpreters. In addition, it is also necessary that basic physical accessibility features are ensured, as per reasonable accommodation in the centres for COVID-19 testing and quarantine facilities as well as for treatment at hospitals and health centres.
States/UTs have been requested to urgently initiate necessary action to ensure these basic features of accessibility are provided so that PwDs, persons with restricted mobility and those dependent upon attendants/caregivers are not inconvenienced further, especially during the times of this pandemic. The basic features of accessibility are as follows:
- All operating and control mechanisms and self-operated devices  are placed within approachable reach of PwDs, especially for wheelchair users.
- Graphical and simple, prominent signage as per standard requirements of colour and contrast are put up.
- Ramps  with railings are provided.
- At least One  low height accessible counter at reception, testing areas and pharmacies.
- Audio announcements and captioned videos for public announcements of important news to be made.
- Ensure accessibility in lifts or assigning liftman in at least one lift for extending help to PwDs.
- Reserving areas/ rooms/ wards for PwDs that may be provided with accessible toilets.
- Provision for vestibular cabins for attendants of COVID-19 patients, especially with intellectual disability and mental illness.
Prime Minister's Office
PM to interact directly with farmers across the country tomorrow
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will interact directly with farmers across the country through video bridge at 9.30am tomorrow. The interaction will provide an opportunity to hear directly from the farmers. Initiatives related to doubling the farmer’s income will also be discussed. It will be broadcast directly by Krishi Vigyan Kendra’s, Common Service Centres , Doordarshan, DD Kissan and Aakashvaani from all over the country. About 2 lakh Common Service Centres and 600 Krishi Vigyan Kendras will be connected through the video bridge. People will also be able to interact with the Prime Minister through “Narendra Modi App”.
Ministry of Defence
Indian Navy to Welcome Return of INSV Tarini Crew after Historic Circumnavigation
Flag In Ceremony to honor six member crew to be held in INS Mandovi, Goa
Goa, 22 May 2023
The trans-ocean inter-continental voyage by the crew of INSV Tarini is reaching its completion, marking a remarkable achievement in the field of ocean sailing. A grand 'Flag in' ceremony will be held on 23 May 2023 at the Indian Naval Watermanship Training Centre , INS Mandovi, Goa, to honor the six-member crew, including two exceptional women officers. The ceremony will be graced by Smt Smriti Irani, Union Minister for Women and Child Development, as the Guest of Honour and Dr. Pramod Sawant, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa, as the Chief Guest. Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, and Ms. Rani Rampal, ex-Captain of the Indian Women Hockey Team, will be in attendance.
INSV Tarini, after an arduous journey spanning 17,000 nautical miles over seven months, is finally returning home. The crew's extraordinary courage, resilience, and unwavering spirit will be showcased during this momentous event. Of particular note are the two women officers, Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa A, who participated in the entire expedition, demonstrating the power of Nari Shakti . Lt Cdr Dilna and Lt Cdr Roopa undertook the challenging voyage from Goa to Rio de Janeiro, via Cape Town and back, sailing for an impressive 188 days on the vessel . Other participants include Capt Atool Sinha, Lt Cdr Ashutosh Sharma, Lt Aviral Keshav, Cdr Nikhil Hegde, Cdr MA Zulfikar, Cdr Divya Purohit, and Cdr AC Doke.
The Indian Navy has been actively promoting ocean sailing, and this expedition is part of its mission to circumnavigate the globe. Captain Dilip Donde became the first Indian to achieve this feat in 2009-2010, followed by Cdr Abhilash Tomy, who became the first Asian skipper to participate in two circumnavigations. In the recent Golden Globe Race 2022, Cdr Abhilash Tomy  achieved a podium finish, overcoming immense challenges during the grueling race.
The Navika Sagar Parikrama, a previous sailing expedition by six women naval officers, further increased the popularity of ocean sailing within the navy and the country. The current voyage of INSV Tarini is a significant step towards the Navy's upcoming endeavor to send a woman on a solo circumnavigation of the globe.
The officers who participated in this remarkable expedition were selected through a rigorous process at the Ocean Sailing Node  established at INS Mandovi on 24 Aug 16. The OSN, under the Indian Naval Sailing Association  based in New Delhi, aims to promote and undertake ocean sailing activities.PIB Panaji | Gautam SK/D.Rane
Follow us on social media:@PIBMumbai /PIBMumbai /pibmumbai pibmumbai[at]gmail[dot]com /PIBMumbai /pibmumbai
(Visitor Counter : 275